Chapter 110: Secret of the Painting Scroll

Shiziwen heard these words and stared fixedly at Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao didn't rush to urge him to decide, merely gazing at him.

Shiziwen was in a miserable state, blood staining the corners of his mouth and his chin, his face deathly pale; if he weren't leaning against the wall, he likely couldn't support himself.

Both remained silent for a long time.

Shiziwen's consciousness was hazy, feeling intense pain throughout his body and weakness.

He looked at the girl before him, and suddenly he didn't want to die.

She could let him live.

If he could live, why would he die?

Due to excessive blood loss, Shiziwen's lips were drying; when he opened his mouth, his tongue burned with pain, his voice still indistinct: 'I… I promise you.'

As he spoke, he stared at the girl's changing expression.

In the darkness, the girl seemed to smile satisfiedly, the small dimple on her cheek slightly indented.

At that moment, Shiziwen felt a surge in his throat, a sweet-blood taste swallowed down.

Yuan Yao loosened his bonds and had him swear an oath.

This time Shiziwen didn't struggle; whether from lack of strength or resignation, he didn't know.

Following Yuan Yao's words, he swore two oaths.

Soon, the oath's binding from heavenly rules appeared on him.

Yuan Yao also realized something and asked, 'How did you escape the Forbidden Ground?'

Shiziwen pressed his lips, not answering.

He remained silent, and Yuan Yao faintly guessed the answer.

It had to do with Lu Xiangxiang.

But there was one thing she didn't understand. Yuan Yao stared at Shiziwen: 'Logically, if you didn't go to the Martial Arena, you'd surely attract notice. It's been so long, yet no one has come looking for or arresting you—how did you manage to conceal your presence?'

Shiziwen felt his head hot and painful, but this time he finally spoke: 'This morning I asked the instructor for leave, pretending to leave the sect.'

He crafted a puppet.

He had the puppet take his identity jade tablet and leave the Carefree Sect.

Every disciple's comings and goings are recorded in the ledger.

Thus, in the ledger, Shiziwen is shown as having left the sect, with no trace of him found above.

Had Yuan Yao not appeared suddenly, his and Senior Sister Lu's plan would have been flawless.

Thinking of this, Shiziwen lifted his eyelids, his gaze complex as he fixed on Yuan Yao, a dull ache throbbing in his chest.

Immediately after, his vision blurred, a wave of darkness overtook him, and with a 'thud' he collapsed completely unconscious on the ground.

【Target: Shiziwen, Awakening Value reached 8.】

Yuan Yao blinked in surprise.

Shiziwen's Awakening Value finally became positive!

Indeed, I have to beat him!

Afraid Shiziwen might die just like that, she moved him onto the bed.

Then she fed him a third-grade Healing Wound Pill.

'From now on, it's up to your fate.' Important figures shouldn't die so easily.

As she turned to leave, she suddenly thought of something and still covered him with a blanket.

…

After Yuan Yao changed her blood-stained shoes and clothes, making sure she revealed no flaw, she hurried swiftly toward the Martial Arena.

She had just arrived outside the gate of the Martial Arena.

She found the entire Martial Arena filled with a heavy, oppressive atmosphere; nobody dared to speak.

Soon, the Sect Master Baili Mo and the two Elders standing on the high platform noticed her presence and looked toward her.

Yuan Yao took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and hurried quickly toward the high platform.

'Sect Master!'

She shouted loudly.

This drew everyone present to startle.

All turned to look her way, seeing her run extremely fast; in no time she reached beneath the high platform.

Seeing this, everyone's hearts pounded.

Among the crowd, Cang Li and a few others slightly changed expression, their eyes showing worry.

At this moment, the Sect Master's face was dark to the extreme, clearly furious. How could she barge in so recklessly? Although the Sect Master usually treated Yao Yao very well, the theft of the Forbidden Ground was imminent, and he had no time to attend to anything else.

At this moment, Lu Xiangxiang saw this scene and couldn't help but laugh happily.

She had never seen such a foolish person!

Yuan Yao's usual arrogance from favoritism aside, to act wildly in such a grand setting? Even if the Carefree Sect's members doted on her endlessly, they would find her utterly senseless.

Being lovable is one thing; being stupid is another.

The Sect Master looked at Yuan Yao below the platform, his brows slightly furrowed as he suppressed his emotions, about to speak, when he saw Yuan Yao respectfully bow with clasped hands.

'Sect Master, I picked up something on the road that doesn't look ordinary. I wonder if it could be a lost item from the Forbidden Ground.'

Upon hearing this, everyone present was startled.

Even the Sect Master's expression tightened, his gaze fixed deeply on Yuan Yao.

'Come with me.' If true, an object from the Forbidden Ground must not appear before everyone.

Yuan Yao nodded solemnly and followed him, the Elder and the Second Elder, into a resting room within the Martial Arena.

At this moment, Lu Xiangxiang's complexion suddenly changed, and she clenched her fingertips.

How could Yuan Yao possibly have picked up the Supreme Nothing Painting Scroll by such sheer coincidence?!

Impossible!

If Shiziwen had obtained the Supreme Nothing Painting Scroll, given his extremely cautious nature, he would absolutely not have lost it by the roadside.

Lu Xiangxiang lowered her eyes, and she let out a cold snort in her heart.

She must be Yuan Yao trying to cause a scandal and win favor, picking up some broken junk from who knows where and presenting it as a stolen item from the Forbidden Land to the Sect Leader.

She suddenly let out a sigh of relief.

Lu Xiangxiang raised her head toward the direction of the resting room, the corners of her mouth slightly lifting; she was here waiting to watch the show.

Inside the resting room.

Under the gaze of Sect Leader Bai Li Mo, the Great Elder, and the Second Elder, Yuan Yao took out the painting scroll from her storage space.

Upon seeing the painting scroll, the expressions of the Sect Leader, Great Elder, and Second Elder shifted in surprise.

The Sect Leader raised his hand, holding the painting scroll in his palm; he examined it carefully and found that the seal upon it had not been broken, whereupon he let out a sudden sigh of relief.

His gaze sank as he looked at Yuan Yao, 'Where did you pick it up?'

"Right near the Miscellaneous Labor Building." Yuan Yao answered without a trace of fear.

Hearing this, the Sect Leader glanced at the Great Elder.

The Great Elder immediately nodded, then hurriedly left the resting room, evidently to go check the situation near the Miscellaneous Labor Building.

Yuan Yao asked, 'Sect Leader, is this the item lost from the Forbidden Land?'

After the Sect Leader and Second Elder Zong Jiao exchanged a glance, they couldn't help but laugh.

The Sect Leader's fierce visage softened into kindness at this moment; he reached out and patted Yuan Yao's shoulder, 'You little clever ghost, you've done us a great favor!'

Zong Jiao raised her eyebrows, 'Xiao Yao'er, I'll record a great merit for you.'

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao also laughed.

She curiously inquired, 'What exactly is this painting scroll?'

The Sect Leader and Zong Jiao exchanged another glance.

The Sect Leader took a deep breath and explained solemnly and gravely: 'This painting scroll is called the Supreme Nothing Painting Scroll; it is a supreme treasure left from ancient times, capable of sealing all beings and things in the world.'

Moreover, more importantly, within this painting scroll are sealed several demon and demonic clan powerhouses from the great demonic chaos that occurred over seven hundred years ago; these demons committed countless evils and harmed myriad beings. Once the seal is broken, it will unleash calamity upon the cultivation world.